Email aliases—disposable email addresses that forward to your real inbox—protect your privacy by preventing marketers from building profiles about you. Instead of using your actual email address for signups, use a unique alias for each service. When companies sell your email, the compromised alias becomes useless to spammers because it points nowhere unless you want it to.
This guide compares the leading privacy-focused email alias services, evaluating encryption, pricing, ease of use, and self-hosting options. Email privacy is fundamental to digital security; this is essential infrastructure for anyone serious about privacy.
Why Email Aliases Matter
Email addresses function as digital identity tokens. Companies sell email lists to data brokers, who aggregate profiles associating your email with purchasing patterns, interests, and browsing behavior. A single email address can appear in 50+ databases, making you trackable across services.
Email aliases break this tracking chain. Rather than revealing your primary email to dozens of services, you use unique aliases that forward to your inbox. If one service is compromised, the alias is disabled—the attacker gains an email address pointing nowhere valuable. Your actual email remains private.
Beyond privacy, aliases solve practical problems: you can disable an alias if a service becomes spammy, preventing unwanted emails from reaching your inbox. Corporate email alias reviews reveal exactly which services sold your data (when you see emails you only gave to one company).
The strongest aliases are entirely separate domains under your control. If you own example.com, creating aliases on yourname@example.com, yourname+marketing@example.com, and similar variants provides protection while remaining traceable back to you (useful for account recovery). If you don’t own a domain, a commercial service provides managed aliases.
SimpleLogin (Industry Leader)
SimpleLogin is the most email alias service, balancing functionality, security, and usability. It’s acquired by Proton, the privacy company behind ProtonMail, ensuring long-term commitment to privacy.
Features:
- Create unlimited aliases on SimpleLogin’s domain (name@simplelogin.com)
- Create unlimited aliases on custom domains you own
- Catch-all addresses (anything@yourdomain.com forwards to your inbox)
- 2-way replies: respond through your alias, sender sees the alias, not your real email
- Alias grouping (organize aliases by purpose: banking, shopping, services)
- Forwarding to multiple email addresses
- Photo Upload Anonymization: removes metadata from photos before forwarding
- Integrated with Proton ecosystem (ProtonMail users get discounts)
Encryption and Security:
- End-to-end encrypted forwarding (emails encrypted in transit)
- Aliases support PGP encryption (can publish PGP key for senders)
- No server-side email storage (only forwards, doesn’t store)
- Headquartered in Switzerland (strong privacy jurisdiction)
- Independent security audits (published publicly)
Pricing:
- Free tier: 5 aliases on SimpleLogin domain only, unlimited forwarding
- Paid ($2.99/month): Unlimited aliases, custom domain support, catch-all
- Paid ($9.99/month): All features + 10 custom domains
Self-Hosting: SimpleLogin provides open-source code (github.com/simple-login/app). You can self-host on your own server. Requires technical setup but provides complete control—no reliance on SimpleLogin servers.
Ease of Use: Browser extension available for Chrome, Firefox, Safari. Click the icon to generate a new alias instantly. Native apps for iOS and Android available. Integration with password managers (1Password, Bitwarden, KeePass) makes alias+password generation seamless.
Pros:
- Most feature set
- Catch-all addresses eliminate need to pre-generate aliases
- Open-source and self-hosting option
- Owned by Proton (strong privacy commitment)
- Excellent browser extension
- Multi-domain support on paid tier
- 2-way replies preserve alias privacy
Cons:
- Paid tier required for custom domains ($2.99/month minimum)
- Slightly steeper learning curve than simpler services
- Catch-all on custom domains requires DNS setup knowledge
- Paid tier only supports 10 custom domains (limiting for domain collectors)
Best for: Privacy-conscious professionals, security researchers, anyone valuing control. Worth the cost for serious privacy advocates.
AnonAddy (Open Source, Transparent)
AnonAddy is an open-source email alias service emphasizing transparency and user control. The founder maintains the project actively, and the source code is publicly available.
Features:
- Create aliases on AnonAddy domain
- Custom domain support
- Catch-all addresses
- Subdomain aliasing (create mail.yourdomain.com, billing.yourdomain.com as separate aliases)
- Bandwidth limits (100 MB/day on free tier)
- Encryption at rest (emails stored encrypted on AnonAddy servers)
- API access for programmatic alias generation
- Integrated dashboard showing active aliases and forwarding status
Encryption and Security:
- Server-side encryption (data encrypted before storage)
- PGP support for 2-way encrypted replies
- Open-source code auditable
- Privacy-friendly jurisdiction
- User data minimization (no tracking, analytics, or profiling)
Pricing:
- Free: 10 aliases on AnonAddy domain, 100 MB/day bandwidth
- Paid ($11.99/year): Unlimited aliases, custom domain support, catch-all, 2 GB/day bandwidth
- Paid ($36/year): All features + unlimited bandwidth, priority support
Self-Hosting: Full source code available on GitHub (anonaddy/anonaddy). Self-hosting is more complex than SimpleLogin but fully supported. Documentation covers Docker-based deployment.
Ease of Use: Browser extension for Chrome, Firefox available. Clean dashboard interface showing all active aliases. API documentation excellent for developers who want programmatic alias creation.
Pros:
- Lowest cost ($11.99/year is exceptional)
- Open-source and auditable
- Excellent API for developers
- Subdomain aliasing is unique and powerful
- Transparent pricing and feature list
- Privacy-first approach throughout
Cons:
- Smaller team means slower feature development
- Bandwidth limits on free and basic tier
- Less polished UI compared to SimpleLogin
- No native mobile apps (web-based only)
- Fewer integrations with password managers
- Server-side encryption means AnonAddy technically could read your emails
Best for: Budget-conscious privacy advocates, developers, self-hosting enthusiasts.
Firefox Relay (Mozilla-Backed)
Firefox Relay is Mozilla’s entry into email aliases, focused on simplicity and integration with Firefox browser. It trades advanced features for ease of use.
Features:
- Generate aliases instantly within Firefox browser
- Email forwarding to primary inbox
- Manage aliases directly in Firefox Settings
- Limited custom domain support
- Relay email mask generation (like alias but simpler)
- Integrates with Firefox password manager
Encryption and Security:
- Emails forwarded unencrypted (Mozilla doesn’t encrypt forwarded messages at rest)
- Mozilla operates in US jurisdiction (different privacy laws than Switzerland-based competitors)
- Firefox privacy policy strong, but US location less privacy-protective
- No PGP support
- Mozilla has good privacy track record despite US jurisdiction
Pricing:
- Free: 5 aliases, basic forwarding
- Paid ($9.99/month): 99 aliases, email masking, custom subdomains, priority support
Self-Hosting: No self-hosting option. Relay is proprietary to Mozilla.
Ease of Use: Simplest interface of all options. Click Firefox icon, “Generate new alias” button, done. Copy alias to clipboard. For Firefox users, this workflow is frictionless.
Pros:
- Exceptional ease of use
- Built-in to Firefox (no separate account needed)
- Excellent for casual users
- Fast adoption (works immediately for Firefox users)
- Mozilla backing ensures stability
- No setup required (works out-of-box)
Cons:
- Limited to 99 aliases on paid tier (restrictive for power users)
- No custom domain support (limited to Relay subdomains)
- No self-hosting option
- Emails forwarded unencrypted
- US jurisdiction jurisdiction (less privacy-protective than Switzerland)
- No 2-way replies
- No API access
- Limited to Firefox browser (Safari, Chrome users excluded)
Best for: Casual Firefox users who want simplicity over advanced features.
Apple Hide My Email (Ecosystem-Specific)
Apple’s Hide My Email is integrated into iCloud+ subscription, available only to Apple ecosystem users. It’s a “walled garden” offering, but excellent within that ecosystem.
Features:
- Generate aliases for iCloud accounts
- Forwarding to iCloud inbox
- Contact blocking (prevent mail from reaching inbox through alias)
- Integration with Apple’s Mail, Siri, and Forms
- Aliases work across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Web automatically
Encryption and Security:
- Encrypted within Apple ecosystem
- Apple’s end-to-end encryption for Mail+ subscribers
- Apple privacy policy includes privacy policy guarantees
- Hardware-level security in Apple devices
- No third-party access to aliases or forwarding
Pricing:
- iCloud+ subscription: $0.99-9.99/month depending on storage tier
- Unlimited aliases included with any iCloud+ tier
Self-Hosting: No self-hosting. Exclusive to Apple ecosystem.
Ease of Use: integrated into iOS, macOS, and iCloud web. Siri can generate aliases. Safari autofill suggests aliases when creating accounts. For Apple users, this is the path of least resistance.
Pros:
- Free with iCloud+ (if you need storage anyway)
- Seamless iOS/macOS integration
- Siri voice generation
- Contact blocking built-in
- Automatic syncing across Apple devices
- No account creation needed (uses iCloud account)
Cons:
- iCloud+ subscription required ($0.99/month minimum)
- Locked to Apple devices (useless if you use Android or Windows)
- No custom domain support
- No self-hosting
- Aliases specific to Apple ecosystem (less portable than independent services)
- Younger service; fewer audits and track record than alternatives
- No API access
- Single alias domain (@iCloud.com)
Best for: Apple ecosystem users who want integrated, frictionless alias management. Excellent if you’re already paying for iCloud+.
Fastmail Masks (Email Provider Feature)
Fastmail is a paid email service that includes email masking as a feature (not a standalone service). Useful if you’re already using Fastmail for primary email.
Features:
- Create masks (similar to aliases) for Fastmail accounts
- Custom mask domains available
- Integration with Fastmail webmail and mobile apps
- Unlimited masks with Fastmail email service
- Profile support (create multiple mask identities)
Encryption and Security:
- Email encrypted in transit between Fastmail and users
- Fastmail stores emails encrypted on servers
- Australian jurisdiction (strong privacy protections)
- Optional encryption for outbound emails
- Good privacy policy and transparency
Pricing:
- $5/month basic Fastmail service includes unlimited masks
- $7.50/month standard tier recommended for features
- $10/month premium tier includes best features
Self-Hosting: Fastmail is a hosted service only. No self-hosting option.
Ease of Use: Integrated into Fastmail webmail and apps. Creating masks directly within your email interface. As seamless as your email client allows.
Pros:
- Unlimited masks with service
- Part of email service (useful if switching primary email)
- Australian jurisdiction (strong privacy)
- Good webmail client and mobile apps
- Professional email setup option
- Optional encryption available
Cons:
- $5+/month required to get masks feature
- Locked into Fastmail as primary email provider
- Smaller ecosystem than SimpleLogin
- No open-source option
- Fewer integrations with password managers
- Less focused on privacy than dedicated services
- Requires signing up for full email service
Best for: Users already considering Fastmail as primary email provider. Excellent if consolidating to one privacy-focused email vendor.
Comparison Table
| Feature | SimpleLogin | AnonAddy | Firefox Relay | Apple Hide My | Fastmail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost (monthly) | $2.99 | $1/month avg | $9.99 | $0.99+ | $5+ |
| Unlimited aliases | Yes | Yes (paid) | No (99) | Yes | Yes |
| Custom domain | Yes (paid) | Yes (paid) | No | No | Yes |
| Catch-all | Yes (paid) | Yes (paid) | No | No | Yes |
| 2-way replies | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Open source | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Encryption | Good | Very good | Weak | Very good | Good |
| Phone number support | No | No | No | No | No |
| Browser extension | Yes | Yes | Yes (Firefox only) | No | No |
| API access | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Mobile apps | Yes | No | No | Yes (Apple) | Yes |
Implementation Strategy
Start minimal: Use Firefox Relay if you use Firefox and want simplicity. It requires zero setup and covers basic alias needs.
Upgrade to SimpleLogin if: You need custom domains, 2-way replies, or unlimited aliases. The $2.99/month cost is negligible relative to privacy gained.
Choose AnonAddy if: You’re budget-conscious, want open source, or prefer transparent pricing.
Use Apple Hide My Email if: You’re in Apple ecosystem and already pay for iCloud+ storage.
Switch primary email to Fastmail if: You want consolidated privacy: primary email + aliases in one service.
Best Practices for Email Alias Management
Domain-per-category: If using custom domains, create separate domains for banking, shopping, and services. If one domain is compromised, attackers don’t access other categories.
Aliases per service: Create unique aliases for each service signup. Amazon gets amazon@yourdomain.com, Netflix gets netflix@yourdomain.com. This reveals exactly which companies sold your data.
Catch-all carefully: Catch-all addresses (@yourdomain.com) forward all mail to your inbox. Enable for trusted domains only; disable for unknown domains to prevent spam.
Disable proactively: When a service becomes spammy, disable the alias immediately. All subsequent mail from that service is rejected, protecting your inbox.
Export regularly: Most services allow exporting alias lists. Export annually as backup, in case you need to migrate services.
Password manager integration: Link your alias service to your password manager. When creating new accounts, generate alias + password together.
Manage Email Aliases via CLI
# SimpleLogin CLI — create and manage aliases from the terminal
# Install: pip install simple-login
# Authenticate
sl login --email you@example.com
# Create a new alias for a specific service
sl alias create --note "Newsletter signup" --mailbox you@example.com
# List all active aliases
sl alias list | head -20
# Disable a leaking alias immediately
sl alias disable abc123@simplelogin.com
# Self-hosted: check your SimpleLogin instance health
curl -s http://localhost:7777/health | jq .
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